Europe’s path to climate neutrality has become inseparable from its energy security and geoeconomic resilience. The Russian invasion of Ukraine exposed structural vulnerabilities in Europe’s energy dependence, while China’s dominance over critical raw materials has revealed the strategic exposure of European industry and clean technology supply chains. Affordability has now overtaken geopolitical risks as the biggest threat to energy security across the EU, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. To remain globally competitive and strategically autonomous, Europe must move from crisis management to strategic redesign of its energy system to achieve diversification, lower prices, and strengthen its industrial competitiveness.
These are some of the main findings of the Energy and Climate Security Risk Index, published in the latest assessment of the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), which explores Europe’s most pressing energy security challenges. The study was the focus of the policy roundtable Economic and Energy Security: Testing Europe’s Strategic Autonomy and Defence, co-organised by CSD and the Institute for Strategic Research at the Military School (IRSEM) on 21 October 2025 in Brussels.
Opening the event, Yvon Slingenberg, Director for Strategy, Analysis and Planning at DG CLIMA, stressed that climate action is not a constraint but a foundation of European competitiveness. She underlined that predictable regulation, accelerated electrification, and deep integration of renewables will lower structural energy costs and reduce exposure to geopolitical shocks. She also highlighted that without modernised grids and coordinated long-term investment signals, industrial decarbonisation will remain slow and fragmented.
Monika Zsigri, Head of Unit for Energy Security and International Relations at DG ENERGY, outlined the evolution of Europe’s energy security framework from emergency response toward structural resilience. She stressed the need for more flexible energy systems with expanded storage, faster permitting, and stronger energy diplomacy with like-minded partners to diversify supply away from hostile actors.
Reflecting on Ukraine’s experience, Anastasiya Shapochkina, President of Eastern Circles, highlighted Ukraine’s accelerated decoupling from Russian energy imports since 2002. She emphasised that maintaining a diversified energy mix, including nuclear baseload power, and domestic steel production, is essential for system resilience.
Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero, Deputy Head of Unit for Euratom Research at DG RTD, pointed to the role of innovation as the anchor of energy sovereignty. He noted that the EU will increase its support for industrial electrification, next-generation nuclear technologies (including SMRs), and a streamlined investment environment to keep European manufacturing competitive.
The second panel turned to affordability pressures, which are now the primary risk, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.
Petya Barzilska, Head of Research and Policy at the European Initiative for Energy Security, underscored that electricity prices remain significantly higher in CEE than in Western Europe. She argued that Europe needs coordinated investments in grid modernisation, wind energy potential, and cross-border infrastructure to stabilise prices and reduce price volatility.
Joanna Mazurkiewicz, Economist at the Institute for Structural Research, shared insights from Poland, noting the importance of tailored outreach to different societal groups to build support for the transition process.
Ana-Maria Niculicea from the Energy Policy Group explained that Romania’s clean energy potential is high but underused due to fragmented governance, insufficient public engagement, and slow implementation of support schemes.
Finally, Luka Simic, Researcher at the University of Zagreb, underlined Croatia’s progress in diversification through the Krk LNG terminal, but noted that energy affordability still depends on faster deployment of renewables and prosumer models.
The discussion underscored that Europe is at a critical juncture where energy security, industrial competitiveness, climate objectives and geopolitical tensions are converging and must be addressed through a coordinated approach. To ensure Europe’s resilience and competitiveness, structural reforms must be based on strong political commitment to strategic autonomy, massive investments in diverse clean energy technologies and stronger public support for the energy transition process.
